Hydrosols are the herbal product of the summer. Sunburn? Hydrosol. Bug bites? Hydrosol. Breakouts? Hydrosol. Redness and irritation from a weird new sunscreen? Hydrosol! Read on to find out how each of Sonoma County Bee Company’s three handcrafted hydrosols can support your skin, this summer and beyond.
What are hydrosols?
Hydrosols (also known as botanical waters) are made by distilling fresh plant material to capture the pure aromatic water of the plant. The plant material is placed in a still (yep, like the alcohol kind) with water that is then heated. The steam, full of the aromatics from the plant, is rapidly cooled and condenses back into liquid (aka hydrosol) with trace amounts of naturally occurring essential oil. This is also how you make essential oils. Keep in mind that hydrosols are far gentler, safer, and less concentrated than EOs.
How to use hydrosols
The most common way to use hydrosols is to incorporate them into your skincare. I keep a variety of hydrosols in rotation to suit what my skin needs depending on the season, weather, mood, hormones, etc. To use, spray your face thoroughly and press into your skin with clean hands. Follow with your usual serum, oil, or cream. I also use hydrosol as the water portion to enhance clay masks - simply stir in a glug or so of hydrosol to a clay that works for your skin type, mix, and apply. Other uses include soothing diaper rash, bug bites, weird skin things (I’m the queen of those), sunburns, and more. You can also use them as room sprays or aromatherapy moments to soothe anxiety, increase mental focus, and uplift your mood.
Which one do I choose?
The three hydrosols we sell also happen to be our favorites: Rose, Rose Geranium, and Lavender. Each one is made with fresh, local herbs and distilled in small batches by our founder. If you're not sure which one is right for you, we've created a handy guide so you can make sure your skin gets what it needs.
Rose Hydrosol: Hydrating, Anti-Inflammatory, Heart-Healing
If your skin is feeling dry, irritated, and sensitive, this is the hydrosol for you. Rose is mildly astringent, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial, making it great for basically any skin type or condition. Distilled from the fresh petals of roses, this soothing, healing, cooling hydrosol is an essential for your skincare cabinet. The fragrance of roses is used in aromatherapy for simultaneously uplifting and calming the nervous system. In herbalism, rose is the number one heart healing herb, useful for grief, heartbreak, sadness, and anxiety. Spray some on your heart space or around the room to feel rose’s gentle healing abilities.
Rose Geranium Hydrosol: Balancing, Soothing, Redness-Relieving
I think of rose geranium hydrosol as the ultimate skin balancer. Oily? She’ll decrease your oil production without ever drying out your skin. Dry? She’ll bump up your skin’s moisture without clogging your pores. Rose geranium is always my first recommendation for acne-prone skin, as it is gentle enough to not irritate a potentially compromised skin barrier while still balancing oil production and the skin’s microbiome. Rose geranium is also used as a hormone regulator and anxiety soother in aromatherapy.
Lavender Hydrosol: Toning, Cooling, Calming
Lavender’s cooling and toning properties make it the perfect hydrosol for hot summer days. Spray your face with this hydrosol and instantly be transported to the Mediterranean, while soothing and calming your skin. Lavender is used for deep sleep and chilling out the nervous system and its essential oil is often used in anti anxiety aromatherapy blends.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.